Understanding bladder and bowel symptoms
Do you plan life around the bathroom?
You’re not alone. Bladder and bowel problems like incontinence, retention, frequency/urgency, and more can disrupt your life, your freedom, and your confidence. Even when medications may fail, have hope: life-changing therapies are out there.
One in 6 adults experiences overactive bladder symptoms.1,2 One in 12 adults experiences bowel incontinence.3,4
Causes of bladder and bowel symptoms
When your body is functioning properly, nerves signal your brain when your bladder or rectum are full and need to empty. When you experience troublesome symptoms, it may be due to a disruption in the communication between your brain and your bladder or bowel.5-8 Targeting this communication may help restore* function.9-11
Common types of bladder and bowel problems
- Urinary urgency/frequency
- Non-obstructive urinary retention
- Urinary urge incontinence
- Fecal incontinence (FI)
Actual patient not shown
We have been able to go hiking, we have been able to go do things as a family, we have been able to really have a normal life again.
– Shamay B., Nonobstructive urinary retention patient treated by the rechargeable InterStim™ Micro system
Contact us
Have more questions?
Don’t hesitate to reach out.
Patient services specialist:
(800) 510-6735
Are you a candidate for InterStim™ therapy?
Answer a few short questions and find out if sacral neuromodulation may be a fit.
Medtronic provides results based on proximity to the search criteria. The results shown here are populated by your selections and may not include the full list of available providers.
Medtronic provides this listing to assist indicated patients’ access to care. Medtronic has no vested interest in any specific provider, nor do we provide any recommendation, assurance, or guarantee with respect to their service. Medtronic does not verify or monitor the license, credentials, accreditations or qualifications of any provider listed in the Physician Finder. Information on this site should not be used as a substitute for physician consultation. Patients should always talk with their provider about diagnosis and treatment information. The list of providers may not include all of those in your area who are qualified to deliver care. There is no cost associated for providers to be included on this list. Some providers on this list may purchase products from Medtronic or may act as paid consultants to Medtronic.
Restoration of function is defined as a 50 percent or greater reduction in your troublesome bladder or bowel symptoms from baseline.
Stewart WF, Van Rooyen JB, Cundiff GW, et al. Prevalence and burden of overactive bladder in the United States. World J Urol. 2003;20(6):327-336.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/Default.aspx. Accessed January 31, 2025.
Whitehead WE, Borrud L, Goode PS, et al. Fecal incontinence in US adults: epidemiology and risk factors. Gastroenterol. 2009;137(2):512-517.
Ditah I, Devaki P, Luma HN et al. Prevalence, trends, and risk factors for fecal incontinence in United States adults, 2005-2010. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2014;12:636-643.
Chancellor MB, Chartier-Kastler EJ. Principles of sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) for the treatment of bladder and urethral sphincter dysfunctions. Neuromod. 2000;3(1):15-26.
Leng WW, Chancellor MB. How sacral nerve stimulation neuromodulation works. Urol Clin North Am. 2005;32:11-18.
Lundby L, Moeller A, Buntzen S, et al. Relief of fecal incontinence by sacral nerve stimulation linked to focal brain activation. Dis Colon Rectum. 2011;54(3):318-323.
Janssen PTJ, Komen N, Melenhorst J, et al. Sacral neuromodulation for fecal incontinence: a review of the central mechanisms of action. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2017;51(8):669-676.
Siegel S, Noblett K, Mangel J, et al. Five-year follow-up results of a prospective, multicenter study of patients with overactive bladder treated with sacral neuromodulation. J Urol. 2018;199(1):229-236.
Medtronic InterStim Clinical Summary 2018.
Hull T, Giese C, Wexner SD, et al. Long-term durability of sacral nerve stimulation therapy for chronic fecal incontinence. Dis Colon Rectum. 2013;56(2):234-245.